Car-coupling



(No Model.)

H. SOMMBRFELD.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 433,374. Patented July 29, 1890.

mvawtomi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEINRICH SOMMERFELD, OF CANTON, KANSAS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,374, dated July 29, 1890. Application filed May 3, 1890. $eria1No. 350,488. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, HEINRICH SOMMERFELD, of Canton, McPherson county, Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to an improvement in car-couplings; and it consistsin the peculiar construction and combination of devices, which will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention in position. Fig.2 is a detail perspective view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View of my invention.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A A represent a section of two railway-cars with my invention attached.

B B represent two draw-heads coupled together with the coupling-pin inserted.

It will be observed that in my improved carcoupling I have dispensed with the couplinglink which is ordinarily used in coupling a train of cars or two cars to each other. In dispensing with the link I use a series of slots made horizontally through the draw-heads, forming the drawhead into a series of slots and tongues, which interl'ap into each other, with the vertical oblong opening passing through them, through which the coupling pin is inserted. These slots and tongues may be made in any desired number, so that the diiference in the height ofthe cars, which is sometimes the case, may be accommodated.

It will be observed that in the construction of my improved draw-head it is formed with a recess at the top, extending outward toward the outer end. Through the center of this recessed portion of the draw-head, extending downward toward the oblong opening, is a groove or flute, in which the point of the coupling-pin rests when the car is uncoupled, and serves as a guide to the coupling-pin on its downward course before entering the drawhead.

In Fig. 2 the operation of my invention will be more readily understood by referring to the crank-shad t, with a loop-crank made in its center, on which the coupling-pin is pivotally secured. This loop-crank is made of suflicient length to hoist the pin from the draw-heads when the cars are to be uncoupled. It will be seen in this view that my crank-shaft is pivotally secured horizontally across the end of a car a sufficient distance above the drawhead. to let the coupling-pin operate. This crankshaft has a right angle turned at each end turned at right angles with the main por tion of the shaft and directly opposite to the crank-loop.

WVhen the car is uncoupled, the right-angled portion of the loop-shaft points downward and the loop to which the pin is secured points upward. The two right-angle turns are made, leaving the main port-ion of the shaft a sufficient length at the right-angle portions when operated passing round and close to the side of the cars. This is done in order that there may be no obstruction caused by the loopshaft extending an unnecessary distance beyond the sides of the cars.

The main object which I have in view in the construction of my improved car-couplin g is that the cars may be coupled and uncoupled by the operator standing at either side of the cars, throwing up or down the locking-levers without having to expose life or limb by standing between the cars, which has to be done in the old-style link-coupling.

I have also provided a chain attachment to the coupling-pin, by which the brakeman can uncouple from the top of thecars when the occasion demands. Otherwise my improved draw-heads are attached to the cars in the usual way.

G is the chain attached to the uncouplingpin at the eye f, formed on the upper part thereof and being carried upward and backward to the roof, the car passing on its way thereto under the pulley rigidly secured to the front of the car under which the chain operates.

f is a loop attached to the head of the coupling-pin,in which the chain is made fast. f is the loop end of the couplingpin.

H is the crank.

it are bearings rigidly secured to the car, in which crank-shaft operates.

I-I' is the crank-shaft.

H is the right-angled portion of the crankshaft; B, the draw-heads, and b oblong openings through the draw-head.

b is a fiat end of the draw-heads, in which the end of the pin rests.

b b are tongue-bars of the draw-head.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new,-and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-bar having a series of horizontal slots and tongues in its forward end, and also having an elongated vertical longitudinal opening therein,of a pivoted shaft having a crank thereon, the said draw-bar having a longitudinal groove in its upper surface communicatin g at its forward end with the said openin g, the said groove having its rear end higher than its forward end, a pin having its upper end pivoted to the crank of the lever, and a chain brought from above and behind and connected with the upper end of the said pin, as described. a

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HEINRICH SOMMERFELD. Witnesses:

H. E. PRICE, J. E. HIGDON. 

